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It was because she was having such a good time that Margaret was distracted as they walked back through the garden.

And it was for this reason that she did not see Lysander on the back porch watching them.

He stood with his arms folded, a look of anger on his face; the reason for which did not need to be guessed at.

“What is going on here?” he demanded of them as soon as they were close.

“Father!” Aurelia cried.

“Father…” Lenora ducked behind her sister.

“Oh, guid morning,” Margaret said with more bravery than she was feeling. “Fancy seeing ye here.”

“I will ask again…” He walked down the steps and toward them. As he did, he looked the girls over, his expression darkening to see how filthy they both were. “What is going on here?”

“Naething to lose your temper over,” Margaret said simply, holding her smile because she did not wish to appear guilty. There was nothing to feel guilty about! “We were jus’ petting the horses and…” She laughed and shook her head at the girls. “They got a little carried away.”

“They are filthy.”

“Oh, it is not so bad,” she said. “Nothing’ a bath will not fix.”

“Girls…” He looked at them both. “Upstairs, now.”

“But Father –”

“Now,” he repeated in a tone that warranted no argument. “To your rooms. I will be up shortly.”

The two girls bowed their heads and hurried inside, knowing better than to argue with their father. This left Margaret and Lysander alone, which meant he was able to focus his anger on her entirely. You have done nothing wrong. And he needs to ken it.

Easy words to say. Harder words to believe…

“What was the one thing I asked of you?” he began, his tone stiff but not angered.

She frowned. “To be fair, ye have asked many things of meh. Some of which contradicted each other.”

His expression darkened. “To behave. That is all I wish for. I know I cannot keep you from seeing my daughters, nor will I try. But if you are going to insist on behaving this way around them…” He clenched his jaw. “Perhaps I will have to rethink that also.”

“There is nae need to be so upset,” Margaret began calmly. The duke’s anger was present, and it made her want to test its limits. But she also reasoned that in this, perhaps, she ought to be careful. “All we were doin’ –”

“This is not an argument,” he cut over her. “Where my daughters are concerned, my word is as good as law.”

“Is that right?” she scoffed.

“They are to be raised properly,” he continued with a growl. “In a manner befitting their station. Which means that they are not to roll around in the dirt like a couple of boys.”

“And does that mean they are to have nae fun either?” she countered, standing up to him. “That they are to grow into lifeless adults incapable of enjoying themselves – nae kenning how because their father has denied them the chance.”

“That is…” He took a deep breath. “That is highly exaggerated. I am not saying that they cannot enjoy themselves. Simply that they must behave.”

“As they have done,” Margaret insisted. She could see the duke turning angrier by the second, but she did not back down.

She was stubborn like that… plus she liked the way his anger made her feel.

Already me thighs are tingling from memories of the last time he spoke to me like this.

“In fact, both were utterly distressed at the mess they had made. Terrified that ye would be angry with them.”

“They…” He leaned back as if struck. “They were?”

“Are ye surprised? Ye are so strict with them that if ye are nae careful, they will grow up to fear ye.”

She could see the worry flash behind his eyes. “I… that is not my intent.”

“It is a guid thing that I am here then.” She then cocked an eyebrow at him. “Even if it is for only the Season.”

He scoffed. “Is that what this is? Your attempt to try and worm your way into my household so that when the time comes, you won’t wish to leave? Or that I might ask you to stay?” That resulted in a smirk, that sense that he was trying to pry a reaction out of her.

She did not take the bait.

“Yer words, nae mine,” she said simply, choosing the moment to step around him before this conversation unravelled. And before I do also . “I am simply doin’ what ye have nae been able. Showin’ yer daughters how to have fun.”

“Where are you going?” He spun about as she walked past him. “This conversation is not over!”

“It is,” she said without looking back. Her heart was racing.

She could not believe she was being so defiant!

But she had to get away, now, before it was too late.

“I told ye, remember, that I will be avoiding ye as much as is possible.” Onto the porch, she reached the door, opened it, and then turned back to look down at him.

He stood there stunned, unable to comprehend how she was behaving.

“But ye are so desperate to spend all this time with me…” She smirked and then shrugged.

“Something else for ye to think about.” And with that, she walked inside and closed the door behind her.

The duke did not follow her, and she was glad for that fact. If he had and they’d begun to argue again… who knows where that would have led.

Even her defiance of him right now felt foolish.

It felt as if she was purposefully baiting him.

Did she wish to upset him? Did she really wish to avoid him?

Truly, she could not say. But she sensed that duke felt the same way, creating a situation that was as curious as it was dangerous for them both.

This marriage, whatever it was, would not be boring. Of that, Margaret had no doubt.